KY/ Barkley Lake report - Labor Day Weekend

[GeoFisher]

So.........It's been a long azz time since I've been to KY or Barkley. Since last year, and then I only went 1 time last year.

At any rate. I barely saw any asian carp. We saw them and saw some in some regular places, but not the massive bays full of them......that was good.

We also found a crap ton of shad, and I mean a crap ton. More shad than I have seen in about 10 years. I hope that starts to translate into bigger and better fish.

We didn't wear them out, but we did catch them ok on 3 days. We caught 20 or 30 yesterday but they were all small.

We did manage some good fish on topwater, and red eye shad.......

bottom line.........I think the lakes are definitely getting better, and will be really good in a year or so.

Later,

Geo

[GeoFisher]

I'm headed down Thursday with my wife. We won't fish hard. I"m really hoping there is some morning top water going though.

HOPEFUL.

Later,

Geo

[kc]

I'm headed down Thursday with my wife. We won't fish hard. I"m really hoping there is some morning top water going though.

HOPEFUL.

Later,

Geo

Geo,

I was down Friday / Saturday before Labor Day weekend and didn't fish hard - like you are aiming I went out both mornings at day break for several hours to get into some top water + action. My plan was to fish Barkley one morning and KY the other but ended up staying close and fishing Barkley both mornings. I did ok - caught 5 or 6 keepers across both mornings and raised one really good fish. Threw cranks, spinners, and jigs a bit after the top water bite and had good action from bass and beyond especially on a small crank. I hadn't fished down there since spring so it felt good to get my line stretched and to tally up some bonus species. I too noticed the schools of shad which I've not seen like that for quite some years. They have been building back modestly the last couple of years but what I saw last weekend was beyond modest. Still haven't consistently catch decent largemouth on Barkley. I can on KY but any bass of size on Barkley has been brown for me. I did catch a 5 lb green bass this spring on Barkley but they have been few and far between for me for several years. My neighbor down there claims he hears of good LM still being caught so I just must be off my game on the Barkley green fish bite. Good luck this weekend. I am hoping to get back down in the next couple of weeks myself and fish a little harder...

[GeoFisher]

Geo,

I was down Friday / Saturday before Labor Day weekend and didn't fish hard - like you are aiming I went out both mornings at day break for several hours to get into some top water + action. My plan was to fish Barkley one morning and KY the other but ended up staying close and fishing Barkley both mornings. I did ok - caught 5 or 6 keepers across both mornings and raised one really good fish. Threw cranks, spinners, and jigs a bit after the top water bite and had good action from bass and beyond especially on a small crank. I hadn't fished down there since spring so it felt good to get my line stretched and to tally up some bonus species. I too noticed the schools of shad which I've not seen like that for quite some years. They have been building back modestly the last couple of years but what I saw last weekend was beyond modest. Still haven't consistently catch decent largemouth on Barkley. I can on KY but any bass of size on Barkley has been brown for me. I did catch a 5 lb green bass this spring on Barkley but they have been few and far between for me for several years. My neighbor down there claims he hears of good LM still being caught so I just must be off my game on the Barkley green fish bite. Good luck this weekend. I am hoping to get back down in the next couple of weeks myself and fish a little harder...

Excellent, Excellent.

Thanks for the info.

I generally always fish north either Kentucky or Barkley and like you catch better brownfish on Barkley.

I've noticed that KY is really turning on with smallies too. We caught more smallmouth on KY then Largemouth, which is crazy.

I I have a baby boat..........2006 Tracker PT190 so I tend to launch from LBL side, on KY and run that side, fishing the bays if I can.

On Barkley I can really go wherever as the wind does not kill me too much.

I will let you guys know.

Thanks,

Geo